Pothos Care Guide: The Perfect First Plant

Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) is the perfect first plant. It thrives in low to bright indirect light, needs water only every 7-14 days, tolerates neglect, grows fast, and is almost impossible to kill. If you have never kept a plant alive before, start with a pothos.

Pothos are Cheerful plants - enthusiastic, fast-growing, and always trailing or climbing somewhere new. They reward even the most forgetful plant parent with cascading vines that can grow several meters long.

Light

Pothos are one of the most flexible plants when it comes to light.

What works

• Bright indirect light - fastest growth, most vibrant variegation
• Medium light - happy and healthy
• Low light - survives well, slower growth
• Fluorescent office lighting - yes, pothos thrive in offices
• Bathrooms with a small window - perfect

What to avoid

• Direct afternoon sun (can burn the leaves)
• Complete darkness (even pothos need some light)

Variegation note: Highly variegated varieties (Marble Queen, N'Joy) need more light to maintain their white patterns. In low light, they may revert to solid green. This isn't a problem - they're just adapting. Move them to brighter light to encourage variegation.

Water

Pothos like to dry out between waterings. They are drought-tolerant and would rather be too dry than too wet.

How often

• Summer: Every 7-10 days
• Winter: Every 10-14 days
• The real test: Water when the top half of the soil feels dry

How to water

1. Stick your finger into the soil. If the top half is dry, water
2. Water thoroughly until it drains from the bottom
3. Empty the saucer
4. That is it

The telltale droop

Pothos will droop slightly when they're thirsty. This is actually a helpful signal - water when you see the first signs of drooping, and they'll perk right up within hours. Some plant parents use this as their watering cue.

Popular varieties

Trailing vs. climbing

Pothos can grow in two directions, and each gives a different look:

Trailing (hanging)

• Hang in a basket or place on a high shelf
• Vines cascade down and can grow several meters
• Leaves stay relatively small (5-10cm)
• Great for shelves, mantels, and hanging planters

Climbing (with support)

• Attach to a moss pole, trellis, or wall
• Leaves grow significantly larger as the plant climbs (up to 30cm or more)
• Mimics the plant's natural growth habit in the wild
• More dramatic, statement-piece look

Propagation

Pothos are one of the easiest plants to propagate. This is a great way to make free plants or fill out a sparse pot.

Water propagation (easiest)

1. Cut a section of vine with at least one node (the small brown bump where a leaf meets the stem)
2. Remove the lowest leaf so the node is exposed
3. Place in a jar of water with the node submerged
4. Put in bright indirect light
5. Change the water every few days
6. Roots will appear in 1-3 weeks
7. Plant in soil when roots are 5-8cm (2-3 inches) long

Soil propagation

1. Take the same cutting as above
2. Dip the cut end in rooting hormone (optional but helpful)
3. Plant directly in moist potting soil with the node buried
4. Keep the soil lightly moist (not soggy)
5. Roots will develop in 2-4 weeks

Pro tip: You can root multiple cuttings in the same pot for a fuller, bushier plant.

Soil and potting

• Soil: Standard potting mix works perfectly. Add perlite for extra drainage if you tend to overwater
• Pot: Always use drainage holes. Pothos are not fussy about pot material
• Repotting: Every 1-2 years, or when roots grow through drainage holes
• Pot size: Go 2-5cm larger than the current pot when repotting

Feeding

• Feed monthly in spring and summer with a balanced liquid fertilizer at half strength
• Skip feeding in autumn and winter
• Do not overfeed - pothos are light feeders and too much fertilizer causes brown tips

Common problems

Quick reference

Your pothos is a Cheerful plant. In LeafLovers, it would say: "I am growing whether you pay attention or not! But if you give me a pole to climb, just watch how big my leaves can get."

Related guides

• Pothos Leaves Turning Yellow? Here Is What to Do
• 10 Hard-to-Kill Houseplants for Beginners (Nearly Indestructible)
• 10 Best Low-Light Houseplants for Dark Apartments and Offices